Monte McNaughton
Estimated cost to Ontario
$1.0B
Former Ontario labour minister. The Skills Development Fund was launched under him in 2021, and he oversaw the selection of its first three rounds of recipients. He left Ford's cabinet and provincial politics in 2023 (per The Trillium).
Connected Scandals
Ontario's Auditor General found that $750 million in Skills Development Fund grants were awarded in a process that was "not fair, transparent or accountable." Ford's own campaign manager Kory Teneycke runs a lobbying firm whose clients received over $100 million — nearly 3x any other firm. The Premier's nephew's former chief of staff registered as a lobbyist immediately after leaving the Premier's office, and his clients received grants. Labour Minister David Piccini's office overrode civil servants' recommendations in over half of cases reviewed.
The Skills Development Fund was launched under McNaughton in 2021, while he was labour minister, and he oversaw the selection of its first three rounds. Hammer Heads and Merit Openshop received grants in those rounds. Per The Trillium's analysis, the manager of the group that runs Hammer Heads gave over $2,000 to McNaughton's riding association while he was in charge of the fund, and Merit Openshop CEO Michael Gallardo gave over $6,000 supporting it. McNaughton also appointed Gallardo to a provincial agency board. No wrongdoing is alleged against the recipients.